Shadow of Destiny

Here's a thought for you. Can you imagine a video game on a console - say, the PS2 - that doesn't involve any real action? You don't fight the hellspawn of the army of darkness using flashy attacks, nor do you kick a ball about while dangerous looking sports stars home in on your position. And no, it's not The Sims either. A game that takes the idea of adventure a bit literal and drops any sense of action. Sounds so very boring when it is laid out like that, and yet Shadow of Memories (Shadow of Destiny to the American audience) not only takes that mold but makes it work, marking it out as a fairly unique title amongst a sea of games.

In this title you play the role of Eike Kusch, who the storywriters decide to showcase his death right at the beginning. Props for them killing the protagonist straight away, but it wouldn't be much of a game without a main character so naturally he is brought back to life. It seems someone else would find themselves in a bind if Eike died...

Wherein most games require you to defeat a boss without dying in the process to complete, Shadow of Memories requires you to actually die... over and over again. In fact the more you die the more % you get in the overall rankings!

The game takes place in Germany where you die, right at the very beginning of the game (in fact you haven't controlled the character yet) From there your told you can change your fate at cheat death by going back in time. From there you have to go through 10 chapters topping your own death in 8 of them till you get one of 5 endings

Now let's set one thing straight. If you only like games like Doom or Resident Evil you'll hate Shadow of Memories, you don't jump, shoot, stab, punch or do anything threatening in it. You run. That's it. Run and solve puzzles. Meaning there's little gameplay (but there is still SOME). It's weird. The game features you dying over and over again yet the most dangerous object you hold is a frying pan.
It's safe...

THE GOOD:
Although it's pretty easy, it's very very interesting and has some of the coolest characters that are sure to get you hooked as much as I am.

THE BAD:
It sometimes becomes a little annoying with so many cutscenes, but when you've viewed them at least once, you can skip the boring ones (if there is any!). And it takes a while to get used to the jerky movement of the main character.

SUMMARY:
I love this game. When you aren't gawping at the amazing graphics, you'll be dazzled by the awesome gameplay. The graphics are very art-like, they look as if they should be hung up in a museum in france. (Even though it's set in Germany... none of them SPEAK German though...) The characters are amazing, especially the evil Homunculus. A pretty long game too, takes a while to complete and you are rewarded with 1 of 6 different, but all thoroughly entertaining endings. What more can I say? Buy it - you won't be...

THE GOOD:
It's just so different. The fact that you die at the beginning of the game, which then begins the twists and turns of your little Adventure. The graphics for this game were some of the most impressive I've ever caught sight of, so detailed that you feel you can actually reach out and touch it.

The characters were creatively done, starting of with the long blonde male Eike Kusch, the main character who is trying to avoid his own death. Poor guy. Though on his first death, a strange and metallic voice calls out to him in a strange place...telling him, he can avoid death and find out who his killer is. This storyline is just a bunch of chills, thrills and amusing deaths for the poor guy.

With the multiple endings, it really gives you a challenge trying to find them all and understand who, what and why it all happened? For a game like this, you wouldn't think time travelling would mix in with the modern kind of scenery, but this along with...

THE GOOD:
Almost everything is good! The plotline, the character development, the graphics, the fact that there are multiple endings, the gameplay (if you're into noncombat cinematic games, anyway)...

THE BAD:
The puzzles are much too easy, and it's really short.

SUMMARY:
This is a really great game! Unfortunately, it's virtually unheard-of and I bought mine used for $15 when most used games cost $30-$45. The game focuses mostly on character development rather than any kind of strategy, so you get a bunch of cutscenes and easy puzzles. But while the in-game puzzles are easy, if you aim for 100% you'll find it's a bit trickier.
And though it's rather short in playtime, trying for all the endings and 100% takes quite a while. I'm not sure that, if this were a longer game with as many endings as it has, I would feel compelled to spend the many hours required to complete one ending.

I highly recommend this...

THE GOOD:
This game had a great story line and had really good endings. The graphics were good too

THE BAD:
I cant think of anything

SUMMARY:
I think that this game should be one of the top five games in the world. This game was so good! The multiple endings were probably one of the best things. It is really confusing the first time you play it around but the second time it will be a little more...unconfusing. Once you know who everyone is you will feel more comfortable. Also, the digipad was really cool. I wish I had one of them. i would travel everywhere. When i first started the game I remember I got confused and got really mad cuz i kept going to the wrong places. But now I am used to the game and think it is the best game ever! Well not the Best game but it is really really good! I love this game so much! It is defiantely worth buying!

THE GOOD:
This game has an amazing story behind it. If you take and get all the endings, it is definetly worth playing! Also, I think the graphics deserve some praise!

THE BAD:
Well, there isnt alot of play. It is mostly movies.

SUMMARY:
Even though you dont get to play enough, the storylind makes up for it. I think its one of the best RPG's that ive ever played!

Oh, and Hemonculus is AWESOME!

THE GOOD:
The many ways the main character dies and the graphics. A nice change for the first hour or so of playing then it got repetitive. At least you can skip through the cut scenes if you have seen them before unlike Final Fantasy.

THE BAD:
The Whole Game Was One Big Plot Hole, nothing about time travel made any logical sense, it seemed that he was more attracted to his daughter than to Dana "incest is the best etc.", the Demon is to wimpy. This game was too easy, everything was pretty obvious. Every time you time warped the place where you need to go was automatically selected for you. Despite the good graphics the World was too small.

SUMMARY:
If he knew he was going to die than why not just avoid the situation. Also how in the hell did the game start in the present when the main character is original from 1580. I beat the game in under 4 hrs, most of it was cut scenes, what a waste of 4 hrs and their are...

THE GOOD:
It has a good plotline, makes you think and use your brain for a change

THE BAD:
No fighting, isn't that really a good thing tho?

SUMMARY:
Overall the game rocks, The graphics were good (could be better. I was easily able to follow the plot, and after actually thinking some (something I find most games dont require) I was actually able to beat it without cheats, or even some sort of strategy guide. overall I think this game is a must for anyone that likes an intellectual challenge.

THE GOOD:
Fresh and original gameplay, mixed with a touch of suspence and mystery.

THE BAD:
A little short, but hey perfect for a rental.

SUMMARY:
This game truly is a hidden gem. A real treat for mystery seekers. I loved this game, in fact I felt a little sad at the end, or at least the one ending I did get. I couldn't put the game down. While only finishing it in around 5 hours, I was left with a strange sense, one that remains only unique to games like SH2, a sense of longing for more. I sure hope they are planning a sequel, or at least other games of this nature!